Introduction and Background:

The Zero Waste Academy (ZWA) was established in 2002 by the Zero Waste New Zealand Trust, Massey University and the Palmerston North City Council (PNCC). The ZWA is located within the Institute of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University. The aim of the ZWA is to facilitate R&D engagement between the PNCC (and more broadly New Zealand waste and recycling industry) and the University’s academic community.

Why Zero Waste?

It has been said: “Nature is a zero waste system… nature recycles everything… why do we find it hard to follow such a good example.” The generation and flow of material resources through our economy links directly to energy use, GHG emissions, chemical and physical pollution and other environmental impacts. The theory and practice of ‘zero waste’ is based upon the alternative view that, all discarded materials are fundamentally resources. The aim of zero waste is the sustainable management of resources, throughout the whole life-cycle of all economic production.

Sustainability @ Massey University

Massey University is committed to a programme of sustainability. This encompasses: teaching, research, campus management and how, we as an organisation engage with local, national and international community stakeholders. Zero Waste is a key strand within the broader challenge of sustainability. Within the University the ZWA supports practical sustainability.